Allergy Relief Resource and Guide

Bringing your newborn home is a happy time but if your baby develops infant allergies your happiness can turn to misery very quickly. Nowadays mothers are advised to breastfeed their baby for a variety of good health reasons. I myself struggled through the challenges of breastfeeding for both my babies. Unfortunately for some mothers this benefit can bring on other challenges associated with infant allergies.

The first challenge is identifying whether your baby has allergies at all. Many doctors confuse allergic symptoms with other problems associated with newborns. Colic is often blamed and the parent is told to wait until the child outgrows it which can take as long as six months. This can be a challenge since a baby’s main way to express their discomfort is crying which makes for more sleepless nights.

So What are Some Infant Allergy Symptoms?

Itchy skin is a main symptom, besides crying the baby may also roll and struggle trying to scratch the offending area. Dry skin may be visible behind the ears and on the scalp and may be thought to be cradle cap. Any pediatrician will tell you that studies have found a link between eczema, asthma and allergic symptoms. The dry skin behind the ears is typically diagnosed as eczema and you are advised to use eczema creams and lotions to help clear it up. Swelling may also occur in the face or lips. If swelling is observed, the baby’s breathing must be monitored. This is very important because as with most infant allergies the throat may also swell and which could lead to anaphylactic shock and possible death.

Some infant allergies may show up as breathing problems or a runny nose and be treated for colds. Sinus problems also can also occur that cause the baby to develop a cough due to nasal drainage into the throat while sleeping. This can possibly be diagnosed as asthma.

Infant allergies can be caused by many things including food, inhalants and environmental causes like mold and dust. Many allergic reactions can show up quickly, especially when they are breastfeeding. Many health professional advise mothers who will breastfeed their baby to shy away from foods known for causing allergic reactions. These foods such as nuts, corn, wheat and seafood, among others can cause an immediate problem for your baby. A lesser known allergy to gluten causes repetitive diarrhea. Infant milk allergy symptoms can include constant gas, bloated stomach,and throwing up. In most cases with infant allergies, eliminating dairy products from the mother’s diet will generally ease the symptoms. Don’t forget there are other causes of infant allergies besides food.

How to Avoid Infant Allergies?

Try using laundry detergent without perfumes or dyes as well as fabric softeners without perfumes as well the brand Dreft is probably the best known brand. Do not spray chemicals in the child’s bedroom, such as air fresheners with perfumes or window cleaners and furniture polish. Keep the baby’s room as free of dust as possible to avoid the possibility of an allergy to dust mites. Until the cause of your infant allergies are identified, do not allow pets into the baby’s room. Change your child’s clothing at nap time and bed time to get rid of anything that may have been picked up during the day. Giving your baby a bath at bedtime will be even be better.

In the previous post I highlighted a product that may help those who think they have an allergy to down comforters. I was exposed to these types of products because of my children but I am also finding they apply to me. I had no clue that I could be allergic to my down comforter. Many people don’t realize that the symptom they are having at night are allergies. The type of heat you have can be a trigger and most people attribute their reactions to that or maybe some pollen that snuck through an open window.

An allergy to down comforters can have a significant impact on your quality of life. A bad night’s sleep makes for a very unhappy and often unproductive person. The allergy to down comforters comes from an allergy to the down feathers that make the down comforters so soft. This down isn’t just found in comforters. Pillows, duvet sets and other bedding can also be to blame. If the thought never crossed your mind that you are allergic to your down comforter now may be the time to get tested.

Not ready to get tested? Here are some things to try depending on the severity of your symptoms, the amount of money you are willing to spend and other possible allergens that you are exposed to.

If you have pets in the house they may be leaving pet hair on your pillows and bedding. If you have open windows you might be allergic to pollen coming in the window. You might even be allergic to dustmites which can be anywhere, particularly in beds. Lastly it could an allergy to a down comforter. The other allergens mentioned are small in comparison to the full list of things that could be causing your allergy symptoms at night.

The above may seem laughable because at the end of the day you are nowhere. You still can’t pinpoint the cause of your sneezing, coughing and discomfort at night. I just wanted to prove the point that an allergy to down comforters can only be verified by being tested by a certified allergist.

If you suspect an allergy to down comforters and your health insurance does not cover allergy testing you can try switching bed covers for a few nights. If you replace your down comforter with a regular bed spread, and you go through the night without any allergy symptoms, then you may have an allergy to down comforters.

Your allergy to down comforters does not have to condemn you to no longer feeling the comfort of down comforters. As seen in my previous post Natural Comfort has a luxurious down alternative. There are other imitation down comforters you can get that will help you sleep comfortably at night. They can do this because they are made of material that won’t cause the discomfort of allergy symptoms. They are also soft enough to satisfy your comfort needs. Comforter covers are also an option.

Allertech® Ultimate Cotton Comforter Covers - Full/Queen 86″ X 86″

An allergy to down comforters does not have to ruin your life. Make the necessary changes. As you can see the options are out there. More importantly when possible verify that you truly are allergic to this and not something else by getting tested. A positive attitude and some research on soft alternatives will again make your bed the place of renewal that is supposed to be.